Tsunami and Other Waves

After describing the awesome power of tsunami and their past occurrences, this book turns to the history of explaining phenomena by means of mathematical equations. The book then describes other wave phenomena and the laws governing them. Many different kinds of waves are covered, including sound waves, electromagnetic waves, gravitational waves, water waves, the Schrodinger wave function, and solitary waves. The laws governing them find use in all sorts of applications as well as give rise to many effects. In our exploration of wave phenomena, we examine vibrating strings and drums in musical instruments, ultrasound, rainbows and glories, microwave ovens, and the cosmic microwave background, as well as deal with questions such as why the sky is blue and how a radio works. Finally, we return to tsunami and the question: What laws govern them? This book is designed for members of the general public interested in physics, its foundation in mathematics, and its relation to our everyday lives.